Rugby News Article - How Queensland Country Might Look

NRC: HOW THE 2016 QUEENSLAND COUNTRY SIDE MIGHT LOOK
5740726-3x2-940x627

By Michael Atkinson

On the other side of the Queensland NRC coin are the blokes in navy and white, QLD Country.

In two seasons, the Country boys have battled for four wins – two in each campaign – but have blooded some of the best young QLD Rugby talent coming through.

While Brisbane City have been the glory boys of the NRC, QLD Country have played with plenty of spirit but without a great deal of success. Will 2016 be a different story? Here are the players who could lead them up the ladder.

Loosehead Prop: Sef Fa’agase

Starting every game of NRC 2015 for QLD Country and playing every game for the Reds in 2016, Fa’agase will be one of the first picked this season.

Hooker: Feleti Kaitu’u

Alex Mafi shared the hooking role for Country with Saia Fainga’a in 2015, but has spent most of the season on the injury list and with Fainga’a departing QLD Rugby, there is a vacant spot. Kaitu’u has been very strong for GPS all season and possesses a powerful all-round game. The young hooker has also had the benefit of training with the Reds for large portions of the year.

Tighthead Prop: Taniela Tupou


NRC fans got a good look of Tongan Thor in round three 2015 when he earned his first cap off the bench. By the end of the season he had worked his way in to a starting spot and his YouTube highlights were being played out for fans in real life. With a handful of Reds caps now under his belt and another season in a Super Rugby environment, the young powerhouse will only get better and will form a very explosive front row for Country.

Second Row: Lukhan Tui and Phil Potgeiter

Both of these players were in the squad last year but the now Reds-capped Tui didn’t play due to injury. Potgeiter, from the Darling Downs, started in all but one of Country’s 2015 matches. Expect these two to get first crack at the lock positions.

Blindside Flanker: Conor Mitchell

Originally from the Sunshine Coast, Mitchell started all but one game at openside flanker in 2015. The versatile back-rower is also capable of playing number six and has featured in that position for most of 2016 for University of Queensland. It’s been a big year for the UQ captain, making his International Sevens debut and leading the Australian University Seven team to a World University gold medal.

Openside Flanker: Jack DeGuingand

After being a member of the 2014 squad, DeGuingand didn’t feature in 2015 but his form in club rugby for UQ this year has been outstanding. He’s a tireless athlete and a try-sneak, bagging six in 2016; exactly what you want from a number seven. An added bonus is he’s studying medicine, so he could double as the team doctor.

Number 8: Jack Cornelsen

Rounding out an all-UQ back-row is another son of a former Wallaby number eight, Cornelsen. Another versatile back-rower, comfortable in all three positions, Cornelsen played two games at the back of the scrum in 2015 and will be the first to get a chance this year.

Scrumhalf: James Tuttle

QLD Country captain at just 19 in 2015 and the most capped QLD Country player in NRC (short) history, Tuttle will be first picked.

Flyhalf: Mack Mason

Although he may have had his nose in front anyway, the departure of Sam Greene to Japan has guaranteed Mason, from the small western QLD country town of Mitchell, will lead the team around from No.10.

Inside Centre: Duncan Paia’aua

Forming a formidable inside backs collective is Paia’aua. With a second year of rugby under his belt and finishing the Super Rugby season with two starts at No.10 for the Reds, the former league player will be one to watch in NRC 2016.

Outside Centre: Campbell Magnay

Continuing his development as one of the most exciting young back prospects in Aussie Rugby will be the flame haired centre at number 13. We’ll miss his battle with Kerevi in the QLD derby, but look forward to seeing him terrorise other opposition defences in 2016.

Wings: Eto Nabuli and Izaia Perese

Although injury ended Perese’s NRC early in 2015, the young speedster showed enough to warrant a return in 2016. On the other wing will be the towering Reds winger, Nabuli. His potential and size is very exciting for all Aussie Rugby fans and this competition will give him more game time to grow.

Fullback: Jack Tuttle

JJ Taulagi has said sayonara and the No.15 jersey is free. Tom Banks from UQ has filled the spot at times in the past, as has Sam Greene however Tuttle’s return to rugby in 2016 has set tongues wagging. He dominated from first appearance for Norths and earned a call up to the Reds in the last two weeks. He should earn first chop, but Banks wouldn’t disappoint either.

QLD Country had a squad of 50 players in 2015, allowing plenty of upcoming young players and club rugby stalwarts to show their ability at the next level. No doubt there will be times this year when reserves are called upon, so here are some who should stay by the phone.

The reinforcements:

Mitch Felsman:

There’s only one word needed to describe the Brothers winger: speed. With 20 tries in 15 games so far in Premier Rugby, this bloke knows his way to the try line.

Apisai Naiyabo:

Described by some as the cleanest hitter in Brisbane club rugby and nicknamed by his Norths team mates as the ‘Minister of Defence’ the opposing figure of Naiyabo wouldn’t look out of place in the NRC.

Harry Hoopert:

Hailing from the small Darling Downs town of Jondaryan, the young loosehead prop was a member of the undefeated Queensland U20s Championship winning side in 2016. Still at the tender age of 17 he was deemed too young to qualify for the Australian U20s, but as we’ve seen in the past, injuries happen and reinforcements will be needed. Magnay debuted at 17 in 2014, so it could happen again in 2016 for this young prop.

Levi Aumua:

At 112kg, Aumua has been a member of a Souths backline with size that most teams would be proud to have in their forward pack. He has speed, footwork and massive strength, and he could be a wrecking ball for the Country boys.

There’s plenty of players listed above who are entering their second and third NRC seasons and Country look like they could have a more settled side than City, so it should be a much brighter campaign in 2016.